Shropshire Star

School zig-zag lines to be reviewed across county - and enforced - to stop illegal parkers

A large number of complaints about parking outside schools in Shropshire has prompted a review of yellow zig-zag lines - with the intention to enforce them.

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Markings outside Ellesmere Primary School. Picture: Shropshire Council

Shropshire Council has announced it is to carry out a review to ensure that they comply with the law and that parking on the zig-zags can be enforced.

It follows what the authority says are a large number of complaints about irresponsible parking around school sites, and about parents parking on and blocking the zig zags, which are also known as ‘school keep clears).

The review will be carried out in the coming weeks by WSP on behalf of the council.

Yellow zig-zag lines on the road are most often seen outside schools, but not all motorists realise that it’s illegal to park on yellow zig-zags at any time.

Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said: “This review will help to ensure safety of pupils outside school gates across the county by clamping down on illegal and dangerous parking.

"Once all the zig-zags have been checked and are compliant with the legalisation, we will put traffic regulation orders on each so that the restrictions can be enforced, and people issued with fixed penalty notices if they don’t comply.”

The Highway Code details places where motorists must not park, including near a school entrance. Parking outside a school is dangerous as it may obstruct visibility for parents and children trying to cross the road.